Cy-Fair steel processing company accuses Fort Bend business of unfair competition

A Cy-Fair steel processing company is suing over claims a competitor in Fort Bend, which includes a Katy man, conspired to steal customers and trade secrets.

Texas Steel Processing, with an office in Cy-Fair, filed a lawsuit on Friday, June 1 in the Harris County District Court against Katy resident Leontin Daian, Ovidin Daian, Curtis Williams, Jeremy Thompson and Fort Bend-area Houston Plate Processing, citing misappropriation of trade secrets, conversion, breach of duty, breach of contract, unfair competition and conspiracy, among other things.

Texas Steel says in early 2011, it learned that its current employees Leontin Daian and Ovidin Daian formed a steel processing company, LDM Welding & Manufacturing, to compete directly with it. The two lied and claimed they only formed the company as a precautionary measure in case Texas Steel went under, according to the brief.

The suit further alleges the two men poached Williams, a sales representative, and Thompson, a burner operator, to work at the newly formed company.

Texas Steel is seeking attorney's fees, court costs, damages and injunctive relief. It is being represented in the case by Houston attorney Diana Hoover.

Harris County District Court Case No. 2012-32148.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Harris County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.